Jump Starts Daily

Jump Start #3887

Jump Start # 3887

Philippians 4:5 “Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.”

  In one of Tozer’s books he tells the story of meeting an older couple at a conference. The couple were in their seventies, dressed nice and drove a big car. He describes them as “mean-looking, talking to each other as if they were in pain. Not a trace of sunshine, no fragrance and no friendliness: just two tired, weary, frustrated old people, apparently too mean to die and too old and dried up to live.” He went on to say, “I sensed they walked waiting for the undertaker!”

  I’m not sure who it was that Tozer met, but I certainly have run into similar people. Maybe it was the same couple. Sour. Miserable. Grumpy. Frowns on their faces. Constantly complaining. Unhappy through and through. When back from a vacation, their first words are negative and complaining. They walk into a church building as if they are preparing to amputate an arm. They leave the same way they came in. After spending an hour in the presence of the Lord, they are none the better. Still miserable. Still grumpy. Too mean to die and too old and dried up to live.

  I understand why people of the world are this way. But when disciples of the Lord act this way, something is not right. We’ve stood in the pond of this culture so long that we fail to see the blessings of the Lord. When the Queen of Sheba came to see Solomon, with a head full of questions and eyes full of wonder, she was amazed at what she witnessed. Words could not describe the food, the splendor, the beauty of Solomon’s palace. She even noticed his servants were happy. Happy servants, what a refreshing thought that must have been. They saw their work not as a burden, but rather as a blessing. They were glad to stand in the presence of the king.

  Paul’s words in our verse today reminds us of our spirit and attitude. It will be noticed by others. Just as the Sheba Queen saw Solomon’s happy servants, those around us catch our gentle, patient and kind spirit. The words that we choose to use, the attitudes that we manifest, our willingness to help out, our joy in seeing each other… all of these things matter.

 Here are some thoughts:

 First, what we project to the Lord and others can help others or hinder them. A unfriendly, mean-looking person, lacking sunshine in his soul, would be very difficult to talk to. Most would avoid such a person. We’d assume that we were bothering them to just talk to them. Scared, intimidated, and uneasy ought not be the vibe that we give to others. Sure life can be difficult. Things happen. Evil abounds. Troubles can trip you and mess up your plans. But, even with that, your gentle spirit can prevail. Put a smile on your face. You are a child of God. You are Heaven bound. One day, all these problems will be a distant memory that won’t matter. God has been good to us. We are a blessed people.

  I was glad when they said to me, let us go to the house of the Lord, is how the Psalmist put it. He was glad. Those that radiate joy and sunshine are a delight to be around. Their happiness makes us happy.

  Second, it doesn’t take very long and a sour, mean person is known by that very description. It’s hard to be evangelistic when we are sour. It’s hard to be an encourager when we are raining complaints upon everyone else. You may sing about joy, preach about joy and study the word ‘joy,’ but when others only see sour frowns upon our faces, our walk and our talk certainly do not match.

  The Ethiopian went on his way rejoicing after finding salvation in Jesus Christ.

  Third, we are the way we are by our own doing. Some are mean-looking because they have chosen that. One doesn’t have to be that way. Two people can have the same hardships and one is forever in the dumps, unable to move on, while the other one is joyful, smiling and filled with the kindness of the Lord. Why the differences? Choice. Some believe the only response to trials and troubles are frowns and a sour spirit. Yet, others realize that one doesn’t have to choose that path. That’s not the only choice. They have found joy in the midst of troubles. They have learned to be thankful in everything as the Thessalonians were told.

  So, how does one let their gentle spirit be known to all? You don’t go around telling people that. You show them. You have a gentle nature because that’s who you are. Gentle at work. Gentle among brethren. Gentle in good times. Gentle when dealing with troubles. Gentle at home. You become known by that spirit and that spirit becomes very attractive. It looks good on you and you become a joy to be around.

  Too mean to die and too old and dried up to live…it doesn’t have to be that way. Make sure that’s not how people see you.

  Roger